In October 2006, White Mountain Sangha held our first silent Intensive. Twelve members joined Norman Scrimshaw for two and a half days at Norman's House, looking out onto the White Mountain National Forest. Here are some poems and letters, from both during and after the retreat, that were written by those who came together in silence.

Poetry from the retreat:

A Buddha, A Bell, A Box

For truth to shine
Three things must be:
The Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha.

The Buddha
  A rock
  Still, silent, awake
  Unknown, unseen, unborn.

The Dharma
  A bell
  Ringing, speaking
  Calling, inviting awakeness.

The Sangha
  A box
  Container for meeting,
  Truth relating, love expressing.

For truth shines through
A holy trinity
The Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha.

--Margaret

Reflections from the retreat:

I have felt that silence, that crispness of attention and had reached, too, in the main, somewhat of a level of nonjudgment.

However, it was the loving piece that I was missing. I felt too cold and objective, and so today when I closed my eyes in meditation, I thought about the love in loving awareness and wondered how it would feel to consciously add it.

Imagine my surprise; it worked. I felt my heart opening and then when I saw my thoughts, my plans, I felt a loving embrace of this part of me that is the problem solver. I embraced that need inside to fix things and recognized that there was nothing to do, but trust, without judgment, with an open heart.

Thank you,

Gitama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a moment

…sun glistening
On slender needles
A bird sings…

--Marcia

Walking on fallen leaves
Stars in the night sky
Wild turkey by the road

– Sue

The Cook’s Practice
           For Gail

Your alter is the kitchen;
  Our sanctuary is the dining room.
Your invocation is the dinner bell.

You bow to the stove
And prostrate to the oven
Your prayer transforms ingredients.
Your offering becomes our communion.

Your scripture resides in recipe books.
Your sermon is dinner.

Your anthem is
    Rustle!
    Chop!
    Crack!
    Bubble!
    Gurgle!

Our hymn is
    Yum!

Your mission is
    Love

Your benediction is dessert!

Namaste,
Margaret

Empty is easy
Empty is fun
Empty is joyful, playful
It’s whatever you make it
It’s God
It kisses you from head to toe
It’s the only place you really need to go.
You don’t have to travel or discipline or stand on your head
Empty is you
Enough said
It is the cause, the effect
The actors, the play.
It’s heaven beckoning you into each day.
It calls you to sleep and return to the womb
Where all has been born and all shall return.
It is the lover you’ve prayed for who never leaves
It’s life everlasting.
It’s all that you grasp
And all that you hate.
It’s the tears, the fears
The bliss, the grace.
There are no lessons
There’s nothing to remember.
It’s a play
It’s the Beloved
Making love to itself.
You are that!
Beloved,
Thoughts and emotions are for entertainment purposes only.
They’re just emptiness having some fun.

Empty is Love.

--anonymous

Norm,
There are many ideas I have yet to grasp and that leaves work for me.

What I have gained here is an understanding of being present –
a consciousness to embrace, to accept all that is, without judgment. 

Thank you,
Sue